Chase Maliq Langston Sisk April 9, 2010 Mr.

Broghammer

Natural Remedies: The controversial use of Marijuana to treat modern ailments

In my junior year of high school, a pattern of severe procrastination and lack of attention span compounded into very serious issues for my teachers and parents. Throughout my scholastic career, I had experienced great success in honors and advanced placement classrooms with little difficulties. In hindsight, the combination of likability amongst my instructors and my natural intelligence allowed me to coast through progressively rigorous lesson plans. Junior year, however, I had reached a proverbial wall of innate intellectual capabilities- the classes I enrolled in were now requiring a level of presence that had never before been asked of me. After receiving uncharacteristically low grades, several teachers teamed up with my parents to investigate why I had struggled so dearly. Several professional opinions later, my doctor and psychiatrist determined that I, like countless other students, was suffering from attention deficit disorder (ADD). While originally opposed to pharmacological therapy, my mom, who herself had suffered from psychological disorders, advocated alternative treatments. The doctor suggested only a few options outside of adderol and riddalin: caffeine-heavy energy drinks, energy pills, and smoking cigarettes... yes, my doctor actually recommended I started smoking cigarettes to provide the necessary stimulation for my brain! Aside from the cancer-stick solution, my parents put me on a regimen of energy drinks and pills which seemed to only help temporarily. Weeks later, erratic heart beats and regular

crashes prompted me to end the treatment myself. Still in opposition to the doctorrecommended adderol prescription out of fear of well-documented addiction and personality changes, I found myself stuck between a rock and a hard place (the former being energy drinks, the latter being hard-core prescriptions). Meanwhile, school continued to throw a battery of challenges I was in no way prepared to handle. Word of my frustration traveled among my friends and resulted in my first exposure to marijuana. Also diagnosed with ADD, a friend of mine suggested I try smoking marijuana before I go to class, claiming the drug had helped him to focus and ease the constant flurry of mental activities characteristic of ADD patients. Being at first apprehensive of illegal drug experimentation, my friend suggested I research the pros and cons for myself. I took him up on his offer, and went so far as to make the drug the central topic of a research paper for my English class. My chief concern for using the drug arose from the popular claim that marijuana was a highly addictive substance, as the dangers of illegally procured marijuana would far outweigh the dangers of being treated with adderol- adderol having a well-researched history of developing dependence among youth patients. My research, spanning government resources like MAPS and various third-parties, discovered a complete reversal of popular beliefs. The Drug Policy Alliance Network confirms, reporting that most people who smoke it smoke it only occasionally. The article continues:
A small minority of Americans - less than 1 percent - smoke marijuana on a daily basis. An even smaller minority develop a dependence on marijuana. Some people who smoke marijuana heavily and frequently stop without difficulty. Others seek help from drug treatment professionals. Marijuana does not cause physical dependence. If people experience withdrawal symptoms at all, they are remarkably mild. (www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/factsmyths)

The threat of physical dependence is a fear most share when concerning illegal drug, i.e.; cocaine and heroin. Finding a general consensus within the medical community on the lack of addictive qualities in marijuana, my investigation continued by addressing the reportedly greater damage to the lungs marijuana smoke poses. Never being a tobacco-smoker out of fear of associated diseases and cancers, I researched the dangers marijuana smoke creates in comparison. Like tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke contains numerous amounts of harmful carcinogenic irritants. Scientist have found, though, weed smokers smoke less often than tobacco smokers, and as a result inhale less harmful carcinogens. The Drug policy alliance network notes: No reports of lung cancer related solely to marijuana, and in a large study presented to the American Thoracic Society in 2006, even heavy users of smoked marijuana were found not to have any increased risk of lung cancer. (Ibid.) Contrasting to tobacco users, heavy marijuana smokers do not have lung airway obstruction, being tell-tale signs of developing emphysema. The final area of inquiry I focused on in my examination regarded the medical relevance of marijuana use: does the drug have a place in modern medicine? Fast-forwarding to the near present, my stay in Los Angeles educated me in the various areas of medical research/ treatment where marijuana is getting a fresh look. I received a license medicate for my ADD in L.A., where I had the honor of meeting multiple patients being treated for cancer, eating disorders, migraines, and other serious ailments. While treating cancer patients has been marijuanas claim to medical fame, my doctor informed me of the endless list of diseases that

traditional medication has failed to treat, and in many cases, brings with it risks that many are not willing to trade for health. The conclusion of my research paper in high school lead me experiment with marijuana and self-medicate my ADD. In my personal experience, I found that the drug allowed me to (and continues to, being paired with my newly acquired adderol prescription) focus and get my homework done. I cant promise the same for others, as I have witnessed the complete opposite with various peers. While physical dependence is barely a threat, I still regulate how often I indulge, and make sure that my priorities with school never take a backseat to pleasurable use. Having recently attained an adderol prescription, I do occasionally use weed to regain my appetite. Adderol is a cousin of street-available methamphetamine, and will suppress my appetite in a very unhealthy pattern. Safely using both drugs has demonstrated to me that my psychological disorder is a manageable issue that I will become more and more capable of handling without assistance.